Police Cadet

Police Cadet 

Benefits: The Police Cadet is a uniformed apprentice-type position assisting in various community service-oriented activities and police officer support services. This position will provide learning opportunities and inter-departmental mentorship with the goal of being promoted to a Police Officer position at the conclusion of the position. The Police Cadet will attend an approved Professional Police Officer Education (PPOE) program working to obtain an associate degree. The Police Cadet will work a flexible part-time schedule at the police department in conjunction with their schooling. To support the goal of being promoted to Police Officer, the City will provide the following benefits:

• Direct payment of tuition to a qualified institution for a two-year degree, up to $12,000 per year.
• Tuition reimbursement or direct payment of tuition to an institution for the Law Enforcement Training and Skills Program, up to $3,500 per year. 
• EMT Training and Certification while working for the City. (if available, or based on budget and class availability)

Status:  Part-time/Temporary/Seasonal (PTS) position, non-exempt

Salary:  $22.50 per hour

Duration of Assignment:  Maximum of 2 years

Location: Eden Prairie Police Department, located at 8080 Mitchell Road, Eden Prairie, MN 55344

Hours:  Approximately 20 hours per week including day, evening, weekend, and holiday hours. Hours vary based on business need.

Reporting Relationship: Reports to Police Sergeant assigned to the Unit

Police Department

The Eden Prairie Police Department is comprised of the Patrol, Investigations, and Support Divisions who protect and serve Eden Prairie residents by providing quality law enforcement services through active and professional engagement. Eden Prairie’s Police Department is committed to offering a customized service to the community, exercising discretion and fairness in enforcement, building public trust in the department, and promoting the professional development of its members.

Position Responsibilities

This position will carry out the mission and vision of the Eden Prairie Police Department assisting licensed police officers in their duties in addition to the responsibilities and areas of impact below:

• Enforce applicable ordinances and statutes pertaining to animals, animal control, parking, and selected health and nuisance ordinances.
• Perform detention duties, including booking, searching, controlling, and releasing prisoners.
• Provide traffic control or perimeter security as assigned.
• Fingerprint services for civil and criminal appointments.
• Prepare and submit accurate and thorough reports and issue summons/citations as needed.
• Participate in various department recognized trainings, including defensive tactics.
• Assist in the recovery and inventorying of lost, abandoned and/or confiscated property.
• Participate in departmental initiatives which foster positive interaction between the police and members of the community.

While these areas are the primary focus of the position, we believe strongly in teamwork and employees will be called upon to perform a variety of duties as a part of their role with the City.

City of Eden Prairie Values

We are a service organization. We take pride in what we do. We cultivate a supportive, encouraging and productive culture with a strong customer focus. We promote wellness and plan work/life balance into our goals. We value differences and foster inclusion. We achieve success by exhibiting our core values: collaboration, innovation, integrity, performance and relationships.

Position Requirements

Education: High school diploma, or equivalent (G.E.D.) upon hire.

Technical Skills: Must be able to use the computer for retrieving pertinent information and responding to e-mail. Proficiency with MS Office (Word, Outlook) preferred.

Experience: Fluency in a second language preferred.  Demonstrated ability to positively enhance the understanding and interactions between diverse groups of people.

Other Requirements: Must be at least 18 years of age and have possession of or ability to obtain a valid, unrestricted MN Driver’s license prior to employment.  Must be available to immediately begin full-time college attendance (12 credit hours/four classes per semester or 18 credits hours/six classes per term) upon hire and maintain a 2.00 GPA (C average) or better.

Physical Requirements: Incumbent spends a large portion of each day in a vehicle, frequently exiting and entering vehicle.  Incumbents must be able to climb ladders, walk or run on uneven surfaces, drag up to 185 pounds for a distance of 50 feet.  Occasional lifting, pushing or pulling of up to 100 pounds, frequent lifting, pushing or pulling of up to 50 pounds and regular moving of objects up to 20 pounds is required.  While on patrol, continual attention to detail in monitoring surroundings is required. 

Heavy Work:  Exerting up to 100 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 50 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 20 pounds of force constantly to move objects.

Working Conditions: The majority of the time is spent in the field on patrol.  Incumbent is required to take appropriate safety precautions and wear protective gear.  While on patrol or at scenes, incumbent may have exposure to injury, trauma, angry or violent individuals, animal bites, blood-borne and air-borne pathogens, traffic accidents, visual and emotional trauma, toxic chemicals, adverse road and weather conditions, and other hazardous conditions.

Position Specific Expectations

Legal Expertise: Displays an in depth understanding of specific legal area; routinely guides others to make lawful decisions.

Communication: Communicates a compelling and inspired vision or sense of core purpose; talks beyond today and about possibilities; can inspire and motivate others; provides direct, complete, actionable and positive feedback to others; able to write clearly and succinctly in a variety of communication settings and styles; can get messages across that have the desired effect

Composure: Exhibits self-confidence and asserts self appropriately to advocate a point of view; is cool under pressure; can be counted on to hold things together during tough times; can handle stress; maintains balance even when unexpected circumstances arise; able to identify and manage crisis situations; faces adversity head on; energized by tough challenges.

Accountability: Follows through on commitments; focuses on appropriate tasks throughout the shift; takes responsibilities for actions both as an individual and on behalf of the organization; actions and words are in sync; follows all policies and procedures; maintains confidentiality; is prepared and punctual to all scheduled shifts.

Problem Solving: Ability to tackle a problem by using logical, systematic, sequential approach; makes a systematic comparison of two or more alternatives; notices discrepancies and inconsistencies in available information; identifies a set of features, parameters or considerations to take into account in analyzing a situation or making a decision.

City of Eden Prairie Pre-employment Process

The City of Eden Prairie conducts the following pre-employment checks for the Community Service Officer position:

• Professional Reference Checks
• Work History Verification 
• Background Investigation and Criminal History Check
• Psychological Evaluation
• Driver’s License Check (must have excellent driving record)

All final candidates must successfully complete and pass the City’s evaluation of the pre-employment process before their first day of employment.

City of Eden Prairie Application Timeline

Position Posted: August 20, 2024

Application Deadline: September 9, 2024 at 8:00 a.m.

Review Applications: September 10, 2024

Virtual Interviews: 20-30 minute interview in between September 11, 2024 - September 18, 2024

In-person Second Round Interviews: September 24, 2024

In-person Police Chief Interview: September 26, 2024

Communication to Candidates: September 27, 2024

Initiate Background Investigation Process: week of September 30, 2024

Tentative Start Date: Late October, 2024

Salary : $3,500 - $12,000